With every issue of this series, David Rubin must get the script and think to himself, “Time to go crazy,” because that’s what he does with the art of Ether. Some issues more so than others, and this is one of them - from the layout, to the creatures we’re introduced to, to the wonderful, weird world we find ourselves in along with Boone Dias. I'm curious if Matt Kindt repeatedly places two words throughout his script: go crazy.

In this issue, Boone Dias is tracking down a deadly assassin who may have had something to do with the disappearance of Violet Bell. Violet is an elf in the world of Ether that Boone loved, but ultimately disappointed, which he tends to do to the people that he cares about. That’s the enormous burden Boone tends to run away from with every opportunity he gets, but in this case, he owes her.

Most of the problems that Boone gets himself into are typically his own. So far in this story arc, he can’t seem to keep himself out of trouble. But, will he push his friends so far away that they won’t be there to help him? Such are the adventures of Boone Dias.

I love this comic book series. I love what Matt Kindt does. He truly digs into his characters and lets their flaws drive them as much as their needs. Readers have enough empathy for the characters that you crumble whenever they don’t live up to their expectations. This has been a cotton candy-colored journey and an emotionally charcoaled dive into the mind of a man who - no matter his best intentions - keeps letting his need to be right outweigh his need for connection.